Volume 11, Issue 22

Aviation Human Factors
Industry News !
Volume XI. Issue 22, November 15, 2015
Hello all,
To subscribe send an email to: [email protected]
In this weeks edition of Aviation Human Factors Industry News you will read
the following stories:
★FAA Aviation MX Human Factors
Vol 3, Issue 3
★US Airways leaves in triumph on
key measure
★Lack of Communication
★Dick Rutan: "Misty"
★NTSB: Fuel line mechanism
disconnected on Dynamic jet
★Ground-breaking aircraft crash
avoidance system enhances
runway safety
★WATCH exclusive documentary:
Diverted: TWA 514
★HUMAN FACTORS
★Distracted ag pilot crashes
★And Much More
Human Factors Industry News 1
FAA Aviation MX Human Factors Vol 3, Issue 3
https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/maintenance_hf/fatigue/publications/
Lack of Communication
Submitted by Gordon Dupont
With permission from D.O.M. Director of Maintenance magazine.
Lack of Communication is
one of the big four of the Dirty
Dozen. The other three will be
along in time if you decide to
keep reading these articles. It
is hard to tell if anyone is
reading them as there is a lack
of communication from the
readership. (i.e. You the reader,
to me the writer who hopes that
someone out there finds these
articles useful)
Are we, maintenance
personnel, good communicators? The above paragraph sort of gives you a hint
but the results of a confidential aviation Safety reporting program administered by
the Canadian Transportation Safety Board says it all. Out of 232 received Safety
concerns, the complaining pilots sent in over half at 120. Passengers even sent
in 15 while maintenance was the very lowest of all with FIVE. Remember the last
article where Giselle said that when things aren’t right, pilots bitch while
mechanics sulk. Face it, there is a lot of room for improvement.
We will concentrate on verbal communication in this session and save written for
a later date. Lack of communication, verbal or written, is simply a failure to
ensure that the “Mental Pictures” match. For example, I have a mental picture of
what I hope to convey to you. If you have the same mental picture at the end of
our conversation then good communication has occurred and there has been a
complete exchange of information. Sadly, this very often does not occur. They
say that communication is only about 30% efficient even though our expectation
is that because we have spoken it will be 100%. One can only wish.
A study done by Albert Mehrabian on how a message is transmitted and received
in average conversation revealed that 55% of the message was transmitted by
body language; 38% by tone of voice and an unbelievable 7% verbally. I have a
problem with 7% seeing as we are technically oriented and professionals. Verbal
has to be more than 7%. Still, if we keep in mind that it is not near as effective at
communicating the message as we believe, more effective communication is
possible.
Let’s look at a model of a pilot and an AMT having a conversation.
One of the reasons the Mental Picture is not matching can be due to what are
called filters. The filters are represented by the double lines and they prevent
the full message from getting through. These filters can be, class distinctive, (I
am the boss and you are a lowly employee) ethnic, religious or even one’s mood
for the day. An extreme example of an ethnic filter involved one of my uncles
who had fought in the Pacific theater against the Japanese. As a young lad I can
remember him talking about “Jap Crap” for anything built in Japan and he would
not ride in a Japanese built car. If a traffic control person of Eskimo decent, who
looked like he might be Japanese, was to stop my uncle in his American built car
and tell him to hold his speed to under 20 mph for the next ½ mile, my Uncle
would do at least 40 mph even if it destroyed his American built car.
If you want to see filters, listen to a conversation between a teenager and a
parent about coming home on time. They exist between boss and employee,
husband and wife, Democrat and Republican and all too often, between pilots
and maintenance. Hopefully they are very thin but one has to be aware of them
as they act to prevent the message from being accepted and are more common
than one thinks, because we all have them to some degree.
So what’s the secret to good communication?
Someone once said: “You have two ears, two eyes and one mouth. Use them in
that order and that proportion.
Steven Covey put it another way: “Seek first to understand, then to be
understood.”
In other words; we should listen more and talk less.
Let’s start with some Don’ts.
Don’t Debate. Have you ever tried to converse with someone who
automatically contradicts what you are saying? It’s frustrating and debating is a
form of a filter that prevents the complete message from getting through. It
almost ensures that the mental pictures are not going to match. Listen closely
before forming an opinion or counter-argument as Steven Covey suggests.
1. Don’t Detour. To detour is to change the subject being discussed. A lot of
politicians do this at election time. Many women are also very good at this. Work
on keeping the conversation on the topic being discussed.
2. Don’t Preplan. The problem with preplanning is you are working on a
response instead of listening to what is being said. The solution is to refer once
again back to Steven Covey’s advice.
3. Don’t Tune Out. We men seem to have been born with the “tune out gene”
and that can get us into a lot of trouble. There are five levels of listening with the
last being the one to aim for.
1) Ignoring. This is useful when children are playing and you are watching
a game on TV. Should the noise stop for any reason; that is your cue to
investigate why?
2) Pretending. Often used when the spouse is talking and you are
thinking about the game. This is very dangerous as you might later find out that
you agreed to visit the in-laws, when that was the last thing on your mind.
Reread Steven Covey once more.
3) Selective Listening. Hearing only certain words almost guarantees
that the mental pictures won’t match. Again: seek first to understand.
4) Attentive Listening. Now there is a good chance that the mental
pictures will match, but it takes effort, as the mind has a tendency to want to slip
back to one of the first three. Part of the reason for this is; we can speak up to
about 125 words per minute but understand up to 600 words per minute. An idle
mind will fill the gap.
5) Empathic Listening. The highest level of listening that occurs when
you are able to sense the emotions the speaker is feeling. These feelings may
not even relate to the words being spoken. For example: you ask a fellow
employee, “how’s it going?” and they reply “ok”. You sense right away that it’s
not ok and find out that the person’s spouse has been diagnosed with cancer.
Some people are very good at this; my mentor Gisele being one such person.
Now for some very important Dos
1. Stephen Covey’s listen more and speak less is an excellent start. Most of
us are in too much of a rush to get our point of view across to hear what the other
person has to say.
2. T.H.I.N.K before you speak and ask yourself the following questions.
T - Is it True? Is what you are about to say really completely True? If not
sure, don’t say it.
H - Is it Helpful? Hurtful words, once spoken cannot be retracted and
build filters to further communication, while helpful words help break down filters
and improve communication.
I - Is it Insightful? Is what you are about to say going to help in the other
persons understanding? If you are not sure, take the time to reword it until it is.
N - Is it Necessary? If it’s not, then why say it?
K – Is it Kind? This is important if we are to reduce the filters that exist
today. An unkind word can develop a lasting filter that may have major
repercussions at a later date.
THINK what the world would be like if only everyone would THINK before
speaking and ensure that the answer is yes to each of the questions.
3. Ask questions. They may say they understand and you may think that they
do, but it is your responsibility to be sure that the Mental Pictures Match.
4. Paraphrase. By repeating what the message is you are showing that you
understand. For example: always repeat a phone number or email address as
one’s brain can easily reverse two numbers or letters while you write them down.
At least my old brain does and the number of numbers you would have to dial
before getting the correct one can be in the millions.
5. Make eye contact. The eyes carry a lot of the body language. For example:
If you ask a child if they broke the vase on the floor and they look at the floor and
refuse to look you in the eye while saying “no”; you can be quite sure that you are
looking at the guilty party.
6. Use positive body language. Body language carries the majority of the
message, so work to ensure that it is conveying the message you want.
7. Remember the filters, yours and theirs. We all have them so lets work on
making them as few and thin as possible.
8. Do whatever it takes to ensure that the “Mental Pictures Match.”
There is a lot of information that, if used, will go a long way to reduce human
errors due to Lack of Communication.
NTSB: Fuel line mechanism disconnected on Dynamic
jet
The National Transportation Safety Board says a fuel line component was
disconnected before a Dynamic jetliner caught recently.
The Dynamic jet that caught on
fire had been in dry storage for 29
months, until September Federal
investigators have discovered a
critical fuel line mechanism was
disconnected on the Dynamic
International Airways jetliner that
caught fire Thursday at Fort
Laudedale-Hollywood
International Airport.
In its accident update released
Tuesday, the National
Transportation Safety Board also
said the twin-engine Boeing 767
had been in dry storage for almost
two and half years until Dynamic started leasing it in September.
The jet was then flown about 240 hours before it erupted into flames on
Thursday, investigator Tim LeBaron said. Both those factors hint that
maintenance problems likely played a role.
Dynamic International Airways Flight 405 was supposed to fly to Caracas,
Venezuela. As the jetliner was taxiing for takeoff, a plane behind it noticed fuel
leaking from the left wing. Fire broke out shortly after, prompting passengers to
flee from the aircraft on emergency chutes.
"Of the 90 passengers and 11 crewmembers onboard the airplane, one was
seriously injured and 21 sustained minor injuries as a result of the emergency
evacuation," LeBaron wrote in the update.
Other details in the NTSB update:
* An initial review of the plane's onboard logbook showed no maintenance had
been performed - prior to the accident - on the wing area where the "fuel line
coupling assembly" was found disconnected. That assembly, located just above
the engine, has been retained for further examination.
* There was no evidence the left engine exploded and caused the fire;
*The fire didn't penetrate into the passenger cabin, but burned the lower portion
of the left wing, the left engine and the left side of the fuselage;
Fuel leak suspected but not confirmed in jetliner fire
* The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder - or black boxes - are being
reviewed at the NTSB's laboratory in Washington, D.C.;
* Dynamic International Airways will inspect the remainder of its planes to ensure
"fuel line coupling assemblies," are properly installed.
* NTSB investigators have interviewed the two flight crew members and nine
cabin crew members; what they said was not immediately revealed.
Steve Marks, a Miami attorney who specializes in aviation accidents, said placing
the aircraft in dry storage for 29 months potentially played a role in the fuel line
coupling assembly becoming disconnected.
"Typically planes are stored in Arizona or New Mexico, where the dry climate
prevents them from having decay," he said. "But whenever an aircraft is sitting for
so long, there's a risk that parts can get brittle."
Marks added that after planes are taken out of storage, they should receive a
thorough maintenance inspection. The NTSB has yet to say whether that was
done.
WATCH exclusive documentary: Diverted: TWA 514
You may have never
heard about the crash of
TWA Flight 514 some 40
years ago in Northern
Virginia. But in truth, what
came of this air disaster
proved to be a critical
turning point in aviation
safety history. And now
ABC7 News brings you
the full story of this
catastrophic and historic
event in "Diverted: TWA
514", a wjla.com web exclusive.
A scarred ridge line cuts a haunting path through the Blue Ridge Mountains of
Northern Virginia. Nearby a humble roadside memorial, untouched for years, is
all that reminds passer's by of the horror witnessed here 41 years ago.
"This is one of the most completely destroyed aircraft wreckage I encountered in
my 44 years of crash investigating," says former National Transportation Safety
Board investigator Dick Rodriguez.
In 1974 TWA Flight 514 slammed into Mount Weather along Loudoun County's
rugged western border after being diverted from Reagan National Airport to
Dulles International Airport due to foul weather.
"Of course there were plenty bodies but there were no survivors," says former
Loudoun County Fire Marshal Oliver Dube.
All 92 people aboard died. Alice Kunz's mother and father were among the
victims. "The mountain jumped up and hit the plane was my only hope of any
kind of explanation," says Kunz, who now lives in Indiana.
The NTSB ruled the crash occurred because the plane descended too low too
soon due to a series of catastrophic human errors and miscommunication
between the pilots and air traffic control.
"You felt this was too soon. How could this be happening? And I thought how
close they were to the airport. They were almost home," says Ann Burke, whose
dear friend US Army Brigadier General Roscoe Cartwright perished in the
accident.
On that fateful day there was plenty of blame to go around. National
Transportation Safety Board members split in their final ruling. The majority
blamed the crew. The minority said the air traffic controller should also shoulder
some of the blame. The NTSB also said there were a number of contributing
factors to the crash, including the FAA's unwillingness to make certain safety
related changes the agency had been aware of for years. The NTSBA was
deeply worried that without significant safety improvements within the industry
more mistakes would be made and more planes would crash.
Among the sweeping NTSB recommendations accepted by the industry:
changing confusing airport approach charts, clearing up contradictory
terminology pilots and air traffic controllers used to communicate to each other
and insisting that ground proximity warning systems go on all commercial aircraft
within a year.
"It wasn't long after this ground proximity warning systems were mandated in
airliners. And that's a very important technology. I would put it up with a jet engine
or airborne weather radar as one of the most important pieces of technology we
have on an airplane to keep us safe, " says commercial airline pilot George
Cornwell who flies in and out of Dulles often.
For nearly 3 years ABC7 News has been digging into this disaster to understand
the full ramifications of this crash then and now. Rodriguez says, "In total context
the safety of the public was enhanced perhaps 100 fold. It was very a significant
accident."
In this short documentary you'll see stunning crash site photographs never
shared with the public until now. You'll hear powerful stories from victim's family
members. "It was devastating. It was really hard. I was losing my mother," says
George Speese, who lost two relatives in the crash.
And you'll gain a deeper understanding of just how much safer we are while
flying in the skies due to those who sacrificed so much on a remote hillside atop
Mount Weather.
Cornwell says, "Any time I'm in mountainous terrain or I read about safety reports
I know that they're with me when I'm flying today with myself, my crew and my
passengers."
This documentary is dedicated to the 92 people killed in the crash of TWA Flight
514. We would also like to recognize Oliver Dube. After the crash of Flight 514
Dube worked tirelessly for years to transform and modernize fire and emergency
services in Loudoun County. Mr. Dube passed away in 2014 at the age of 84,
several months after we interviewed him for this story.
http://wjla.com/news/local/diverted-twa-514
http://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/
AAR75-16.pdf
HUMAN FACTORS
Human Factors Ground School Course Now Online
My popular Human Factors Ground School is now an online course. I have
delivered that program many times via live on-site and webinar presentations. It
consists of three lessons and a 20 question quiz. The program is valid for all
three Wings credits at the basic level upon completion. This is a fee-based
course to help support my safety initiative. For a limited time, my subscribers can
enroll for half price.
New Human Factors Blog
I have begun a new blog for my consulting company's website. It is called "The
Being Better Blog" and relates to human factors. The blog is based on a program
that we offer simply called, "Being Better."
While not specifically designed to target aviation, it looks at how us meager
humans can be better at everything we do. And since being better at what we do
should result in making fewer errors, we might just become better pilots.
Click here for more info or to enroll.
Click here to check out the blog.
Please visit my website, genebenson.com for more safety information including
free online courses, many are valid for FAA Wings credit.
US Airways leaves in triumph on key measure
Its last flight capped a stellar run
for safety
In two little-known events, its
pilots might have saved hundreds
of lives
The airline didn’t score well in
customer service, but more than
made up for that on safety
In mid-October, US Airways
ceased to exist as an
independent entity. Many
passengers will doubtless say
“good riddance,” for they voted the
carrier a two-star rating from J. D. Power and ranked it below average on almost
every dimension. But US Airways deserves a much fonder farewell than that.I
study aviation safety, and paid particular attention to the airline in the early
1990s, when it experienced a series of accidents culminating in a 1994 Boeing
737 crash near Pittsburgh that killed 132 people. Had US Airways suffered a
temporary spasm of bad luck, or was the problem more systematic? We now
know that bad luck was the main culprit.
The 737 crash (which killed more passengers than the others in the series
combined) was caused by a subtle defect in the rudder controls, which could
have struck any airline that operated the plane. Moreover, US Airways experts
were instrumental in uncovering the defect before it could cause further
tragedies.
Since 1994, US Airways has achieved a safety record that was not only flawless
but magnificent. Probably the most inspiring aviation event in the 21st century – if
not the most inspiring event of any kind – was the miracle on the Hudson, in
which a crippled US Airways plane landed in the water and all aboard were
saved. It was no surprise that both President Bush and President-elect Obama
rushed to call Captain Sullenberger with congratulations.
But two other recent events involving the airline were also extraordinary although
less well-publicized. On a foggy night in Providence in 1999, US Airways Flight
2998 was cleared for takeoff. However, the pilots had been monitoring ground
transmissions, and sensed that a Boeing 757 that had just landed was unsure of
its position. To the obvious annoyance of the air traffic controller, the pilots
“politely but pointedly” (in the words of a subsequent award) refused to take off
until sure that the 757 had reached its gate. It later emerged that, when Flight
2998 was cleared for takeoff, the Boeing 757 was standing directly ahead of it on
the runway. Through prudence and decisiveness, the pilots had avoided a horrific
collision.
In 2005 in Boston, US Airways Flight 1170 and an Airbus 330 headed for Europe
were simultaneously cleared for takeoff on criss-crossing runways, putting them
on course for an imminent collision. The US Airways pilots saw what was wrong
and, reacting instantly, kept the plane’s nose on the ground so that it passed
barely below the Airbus, which had just lifted off. The 381 people on the two
planes thus avoided a catastrophe.
US Airways is not the only large airline that avoided passenger deaths over the
last two decades. But I know of no other carrier that prevented three potential
disasters through spectacular displays of professional skill. On passenger safety
– the most important dimension of all – one can readily argue that US Airways
amassed the most distinguished record of all the world’s airlines in recent years.
But what of the many complaints about customer service on US Airways? Here
what people do might be far more revealing than what they say.
On many key routes, US Airways achieves higher market shares than jetBlue
and Southwest, the top-rated carriers for customer service.
US Airways was neither flashy nor ostentatiously elegant; it was always frumpy
and unassuming. But in its last decades it was a terrific airline, which enhanced
the reputation of American aviation and brought a billion passengers to their
destinations without a single call to the next of kin. It is worth remembering with
admiration and gratitude.
Dick Rutan: "Misty"
What does it take to be a
warrior? World record
holder, Dick Rutan,
shares his journey from a
childhood ride in a Piper
Cub to the moment he
would discover whether
he was to pilot of a Super
Sabre F-100.
Dick Rutan set the record for flying his self-designed aircraft–The Voyager–
around the world without refueling or landing, on December 14, 1986. This event
was a landmark moment in aviation history as it marked one of the last real
aviation “records” to be broken. However, the courage required for such a feat
was minted long before during Dick’s service as a Vietnam combat pilot and as a
young boy growing up in California during the 1940’s. The “OGTA: MISTY”
episodes focuses on these two crucial aspects of Dick’s life.Aviation Artist,
Historian and OGTA Host John Mollison conducted the exclusive interview. “Dick
is a real American adventure story,” explains Mollison. “He was inspired by the
WW2 generation to serve his country and become self-sufficient. He did just that
and in turn, has become an inspiration to the next generation of Americans.
OGTA is “A fresh look at history, culture and life” and produced by South Dakota
video producer, Rick Lingberg. OGTA highlights the service and life-wisdom of
combat aviators and features the artwork of John Mollison.
http://www.oldguysandtheirairplanes.com/
Ground-breaking aircraft crash avoidance system
enhances runway safety
Introducing Aerial, Landing, & Takeoff Aircraft Crash Avoidance System
(ALTACAS)
ALTACAS TECHNOLOGY
today announced the latest
patented innovation in aircraft
crash avoidance technology
primarily designed to target
and provide an effective,
practical solution to enhance
runway safety during takeoffs
and landings, while preventing
collisions during climbs, midflights, and descents.
Latest data from
www.planecrashinfo.com shows 20% of fatal accidents occurred during takeoffs
and initial climb, while 46% occurred during initial approach, final approach, and
landing. The majority caused by human errors. The present day use of drones
may increase these alarming statistics. For example, on March 22, 2014, US
Airways Flight 4650 nearly collided with a drone while landing at the Tallahassee
Regional Airport.Takeoffs and landings account for 66 percent of fatal air
accidents, but current air traffic control systems are designed mainly to monitor
aircraft that are in mid-flight. To help fill this gap, ALTACAS Technology has
developed its Aerial, Landing, & Takeoff Aircraft Crash Avoidance System
(ALTACAS). Designed to be retrofitted to current aircraft and as a supplement to
existing next-generation air traffic control and crash avoidance systems, it uses
lasers and microprocessors to monitor runways and flight paths during takeoffs
and landings.
ALTACAS is an automated system designed to allow inbound and outbound
aircraft to independently monitor runways and approach/landing airways for safer
taxiing, takeoffs, and landings by providing more information and situational
awareness.
The system also acts an anti-collision system during flight. It works by tracking
other aircraft and potential hazards in the air and on the ground, and calculates if
they're on a collision course. If so, it provides the pilot, the other aircraft, and
ground control with visual and audible warnings.
Designed to act independently or in concert with other ALTACAS units installed in
other aircraft and on airfields, its most visible component is a Multidirectional
Radar And Housing (MRAH) that mounts on the wings or fuselage and consists
of a rotating, hemispherical, aerodynamic housing containing Light Detection and
Ranging (LIDAR) sensors and receivers. Supplemented by conventional radar,
the LIDAR uses invisible pulsed laser beams to scan for and track potential
hazards to a range of several miles.
The second part of the system is the Control And Processing Unit (CAPU), which
is made up of a central processor and the cockpit controls and display. This
connects to the Remote Processing Unit (RPU) installed in the airfield's traffic
control system. Also on the airfield is the ground sensors or Sensor Activated
Lighting Apparatus (SALA). These keep track of taxiing aircraft and turn the field
landing lights from blue to red to warn if the runway is unavailable to an
approaching aircraft, if there's another aircraft in a runway intersection, or if a
maintenance vehicle is where it shouldn't be.
In operation, the pilot feeds flight information into the ALTACAS system, such as
takeoff weight, airspeed, and wind speed. The system then scans the runway
ahead and above the aircraft. If it detects another aircraft on the ground or in the
air, or some other potential hazard, such as a ground vehicle or a UAV, it uses
the flight data along with GPS tracking to calculate whether it's on a collision
course. If the answer is positive, it then sounds an audible warning and sends a
cockpit warning message that notes the urgency of the hazard. Meanwhile, it
sends similar warnings to the other aircraft and ground control and opens up
three-way radio communications to resolve the problem.
After takeoff, the system continues to monitor the takeoff corridor for approaching
aircraft, then makes 360-degree scans in mid-flight to supplement the other crash
avoidance systems. During landings, it continues to monitor through touchdown
and taxiing.
ALTACAS Technology says that the technology can also be adapted for ships
and trains and is available for licensing or sales.
https://youtu.be/vcH8mPTxQA8
Distracted ag pilot crashes
The Air Tractor 402B pilot reported that he was reading a map in an effort to
identify the correct field to spray while
maneuvering at low altitude in dark
night conditions near Wellton, Ariz.
While maneuvering in a turn he didn’t
realize the airplane was descending
and it subsequently collided with
terrain. The wings and fuselage were
substantially damaged.The NTSB
determined the probable cause as the
pilot’s distracted attention and failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear terrain
while maneuvering in dark night conditions.
NTSB Identification: WPR14CA003
This October 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation
Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn
from the misfortunes of others.
FLIGHT CREW TRAINING
Eye-Opening Information About Sleep
A hot topic in business aviation is how to
balance a day of flying with the need for muchneeded rest. Mayo Clinic aerospace medicine
team physician, Dr. Steven Altchuler, has
recommendations to help flight crews adjust to
work hours that often extend beyond 9 a.m. to 5
p.m.:
"Ideally you want to set your watch, and you want your body to live on that watch
time wherever the sun happens to be at any point in time."
... Listen to the complete NBAA Flight Plan podcast.
Google: Drone Deliveries In Two Years
Even as the FAA struggles to
formulate drone regulations,
Internet giant Google says it
will begin delivering packages
by drone sometime in 2017.
David Vos, who leads Project
Wing for Google's parent,
Alphabet, said the company is
in discussions with the FAA to
set up an air traffic control
system for drones that would
use cellular and Internet
technology to deconflict drone traffic at altitudes below 500 feet, according to a
report this week by Reuters. "Our goal is to have commercial business up and
running in 2017," Vos said at the ATCA Conference in Washington on Monday.
Alphabet is moving quickly, having announced Project Wing only in 2014 with
videos of flight research taking place in Australia. In the U.S., Project Wing has
partnered with NASA for further flight trials.
Vos claims with the FAA's recent announcement requiring drone registration, a
system to separate small drones from other aircraft could be functioning within 12
months. This system would use wireless and Internet technology, including
cellphone apps, to identify drones and keep them clear of other aircraft in
controlled airspace. Google, Vos said, would like to see Class G airspace carved
out for drones, which would allow unmanned flight over populated areas while
avoiding aircraft flying in that airspace, especially helicopters.
FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education
New FAA Safety Briefing: Good N.I.G.H.T.
Notice Number: NOTC6285
The November/December 2015 "Good Night"
issue of FAA Safety Briefing focuses on general
aviation night operations. Articles in this issue
address the importance of having both the right
physical and mental preparation for flying at night,
as well as how technology can help.
In this issue, we used the word NIGHT as a mnemonic checklist for all of the
content in this night-themed issue. Feature articles include:
N = Nightlights – Using “Pilot Nightlights” to Find Your Way in the Dark (p 12),
I = Illusions – Nighttime Perils of Perception (p 16),
G = Gadgets – Glowing Gadgets and Gizmos (p. 20)
H = Human Factors – How Night Can Be Hazardous to Your Flying Health (p 24)
T = Terrain Avoidance – What Does it Take to Use NVGs? (p 28)
The link to the online edition is: http://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/. Also, be
sure to follow us on Twitter - @FAASafetyBrief.
FAA Safety Briefing is the safety policy voice for the non-commercial general
aviation community. The magazine's objective is to improve safety by:
•
making the community aware of FAA resources
•
helping readers understand safety and regulatory issues, and
•
encouraging continued training
Human Factors Expert Recognized with FSF- Airbus
Safety Award
Miami Beach, Florida - Flight Safety Foundation
announced today that the FSF-Airbus Human
Factors in Aviation Safety Award was presented
to Tony Kern, CEO of Convergent Performance,
for his work on, and dedication to, minimizing
human error in the cockpit, his numerous books
on pilot performance, and his guide to
professionalism for individuals and corporations.
The award was presented during the
Foundation's 68th annual International Air Safety
Summit.
Kern is an award-winning author, lecturer and
consultant, and is a leading authority on human
performance in time-constrained, error-intolerant
environments.
He served in the U.S. Air Force as a command pilot and flight examiner in the
B-1B bomber, in a variety of senior staff and leadership roles, and as chairman of
the U.S. Air Force Human Factors Steering Group.
"Dr. Kern defined what it takes to be a professional airman and provided a
detailed analysis of the critical safety role played by always following rules and
procedures," stated Craig Hoskins, Vice President, Safety, Security and Technical
Affairs Airbus Americas, Inc. "His understanding and ability to develop
procedures to minimize human error in aviation has made aviation that much
safer for all of us."
The Flight Safety Foundation-Airbus Human Factors in Aviation Safety Award
was established in 1999 to recognize "outstanding achievement in human factors
contributions to aviation safety." The award was instituted to encourage human
factors research that would help reduce human error - one of the most common
elements in aviation accidents.
"Someone whose life's work has been and continues to be dedicated to
addressing human factors in aviation should be recognized for that dedication,
and Tony Stern is well-deserving of this award," stated Jon Beatty, FSF president
and CEO.
BOOK
Ed Hiner was a Navy SEAL for 20 years who was
twice awarded the Bronze Star. He leads the Hiner
Group as a coach and consultant specializing in
leadership, team building, mental toughness,
resiliency and personal conflict resolution.
His book, “First, Fast, Fearless: How to Lead Like a
Navy SEAL,” was published in September 2015 by
McGraw-Hill Educatio
TED: Ideas Worth Sharing
In our louder and louder world, says sound expert Julian Treasure, "We are
losing our listening." In this short, fascinating talk, Treasure shares five ways to
re-tune your ears for conscious listening — to other people and the world around
you.
http://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better